Back to The Waterworks: Sibley

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 1 PM -- Castle Sibley]

> “It’s a plan!” Tramma agreed perkily, and hand in hand with the
> wizards, led the couple inwards to where there no doubt was a
> sumptuous breakfast awaiting.

Afternoon was beginning to fade into evening when the wizards were
finally seen again. They had entirely missed the midday meal and any
planning sessions or conferences that might have taken place, but over
some tea – and, of course, the Abbot’s preferred beverage – they met
with the various local and Crown delegations in case there had been
anything important that might have needed their input.

Soon afterwards, it was time for the *first* of the early evening’s two
outbound expeditions. The wizards lacked the transport capability to
take both Lord Erik to the Holymolders AND the rest of the Kenobi
Expedition back to the Plains all at once. Fortunately, Finfin could
divide the travel up into segments, delivering the Paladin Lord to his
destination first, then return back to Sibley, and in a final transport
of the day carry everyone else out to the Godcarvers to rejoin the
efforts around The Waterworks.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Tramma accompanied the wizards out to Sibley’s
main courtyard where they met Lord Erik’s shining white steed. The
Abbot’s staff had been efficient as always, and had helped prepare the
steed for the up and coming journey, likely guided by the horse himself.
Within, the Fort Resolute leader was likely ironing out a few last
minute details with his fellow Lords of the Gelmir Vale, leaving the
three a moment to talk. *Four* if one included Miracle, and it was
*always* prudent to include the Divine Steed in one’s plans.

“I’m glad you two got a chance to nap together,” the bard cheerfully
told the two wizards. Rather wistfully, she added, “I’m just sorry I
couldn’t have been there, but I had to stay on duty in case Hizzoner
needed me.”

Mithi, however, merely chuckled. “Maybe better that way. Ya would’ve
been more’n welcome, but Fin an’ me might not ‘ave got the rest ‘e
needed ta retool ‘is spell list fer more DimFolds an’ others.”

“That,” Finfin mused, “and I am not sure that holy castles are all that
conducive to those sorts of activities.”

Tramma blinked at the two. “*Any* place can work if people *want* them
to. I’ll tell ya some stories, sometime.” She then peered at the mages
as a new thought occurred to her, and she asked incredulously, “You mean
you had an excuse to be in bed all day, and all you two did was *sleep*?”

“Well, we *did* rather stay up most of the last night,” Finfin admitted.

Mithi nodded. “Oi didn’t mind the extra bit of kip, and ‘ad ta do a bit
ov retoolin’ meself fer that Clothier’s Closet fer you.”

“For *Erik*,” the bard corrected, and then laughed. “Ah, you two. You’ll
learn one day how to burn the candle at both ends. I can teach you by
bad example if nothing else.”

A snort from Miracle was followed by an unusually eloquent interjection.
“Be that as it may,” the Divine Steed stated, “but I for one am just as
glad that the Captain managed some proper sleep before scattering my
atoms across all of creation.”

“That is not *quite* how Dimensional Folding works,” Finfin began before
realizing that even horses could pull his leg from time to time.

Tramma smiled up at the Divine Steed. “That reminds me,” she continued
happily. “Miracle? I wanna ask your Rider if he’d mind me riding double,
but I want to check it with YOU first. Is that OK?”

“I can carry you many leagues, Tramma Silverhair,” Miracle replied. “And
would be quite happy to do so, if for no other reason than to give my
lad a reminder of what it feels like to have the female of his species
in close proximity.”

“Thank you!” Tramma replied, curtseying politely to the horse. “I will
try my best to make him aware Ima hot babe, but sadly I gotta mostly
behave. I hadn’t realized until this trip how shy he is; around hot buff
guys like him I get… a bit forward, let’s be polite and say.”

“Not quite how I would have put it,” the divine steed chuckled. “But
then, horses have rather different notions of dating etiquette. I shall
put my trust in your fine instincts and exquisite tact. It would get
just the slightest bit complicated if you took BOTH the leaders of Fort
Resolute as lovers.”

“Would be interesting,” Tramma chuckled. “Why think small, my campaign
with Bartras does not seem hopeless.” She paused and shook her head
ruefully, and admitted, “even *I* have not been brash enough to let on
to Dame Nerwen just how fascinating I think she is, but with me there’s
no telling.”

“You do certainly seem to liven up social situations,” the steed
observed with dry humor. “Those fascinating questions aside, and back to
the immediate needs of travel; just how *many* leagues I can carry you,”
Miracle added thoughtfully, “will depend on just how heavy a load Erik
wishes me to carry. So I cannot promise to carry you *everywhere* on the
other side, depending on Erik’s gear.”

“Oh, that’s OK!” the bard enthused. “I’ll have a Phantom Steed song of
my own ready, if I need it. Just… don’t tell him if you don’t have to,
OK? Even though I’ve resolved not to seduce him myself for now, we DO
need to keep him thinking along those lines for other reasons.”

The shining white horse gently nosed the bard’s silver hair. “You can
count on my discretion on both counts. It shall be our secret,” Miracle
agreed.

Soon afterwards, the Lord of Fort Resolute joined them in the courtyard.
“Ready to go?” he asked genially.

“In just a moment,” Tramma answered as she reached into her overnight
bag. Quickly, she pulled out a beaded overshirt with tribal pictographs
and runes detailing Erik’s major exploits, designed to fit over his
armor. “I dunno if you packed your ‘Great Chief’ tabard, or if you’ve
bothered to update yours with the latest achievements. Either way,
here’s as nice a one as I could devise in the Forest People customs. The
one you have was in the Horse Tribes tradition and quite recognizable on
this side of the river, but won’t hurt to have both available,” she
explained, handing it over to the knight. “Courtesy of Mithi’s magics.
Now, properly we should have you in a Chief’s Bonnet as well, but your
signature helmet should do. No sense overdoing it unless we’re looking
at a formal occasion or something.”

“Thank you,” the blonde Norseman replied sincerely to the two ladies.

“Now, the other thing,” Tramma continued briskly. “Can I ride double
with you? It will save Fin some spell load.”

Even though Finfin had expected the bard to ask the knight this
question, and strongly suspected he understood her motivation, he had
not been expecting to be brought into the discussion directly. And he
knew himself not to be an accomplished dissembler, so he simply stuck to
the truth – if not the WHOLE truth. “It *would* conserve a passenger
slot for the Dimensional Fold,” he agreed.

“Of course,” Erik agreed. “Now, are we all set? You *were* able to
contact Gil and make certain she’ll be able to get me back?”

“All taken care of!” Tramma agreed breezily as first Erik swung himself
up on Miracle, and then accepted a helping hand upward onto the Divine
Steed. “I reached some *good* friends at both the Holymolders and at
Gil’s Grove, and we’re expected.” She glanced impishly at Finfin, and
teased, “MOST of us should be good to go. If you let Mithi and I handle
any girl talk, even Fin will probably emerge unscathed.”

“Physically, leastways,” Mithi agreed solemnly, with a sly grin at
Finfin. “No promises ‘bout ‘is ego, but a little deflation nivver ‘urts
any of us, wot?”

Equine and human eyes turned to Finfin, and the elf began to chant while
taking Mithi in one hand, and Tramma in another. Seconds later, the
white and black ringed tunnel of his Dimension Fold opened before them.

“This *does* look better in a rainbow hue,” Miracle observed dryly.

“Yeah, artistically it is much more pleasing that way,” Tramma agreed
cheerfully. "Still way more interesting than a boring old teleport; I
mean, nothing to see there, just move along. Bamf."

A moment later, the travellers stepped through. A moment after that, to
equate temporal terms to the vexation of scholars, the travellers
emerged from a similar tunnel mouth in a cleared spot in a tribal
village nestled against the Great River Kirith. Lord Erik and his escort
had arrived at the Holymolders.

And as Tramma had predicted, they were expected, and made very welcome.